The Big Hit Sports Show

"The Big Hit" is a half hour sports talk show on WIUP-TV, a university television station for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and available to up to 100,000 regional customers. Taped in the basement of Davis Hall on the IUP campus, "The Big Hit" airs during the college year, but does not run during spring, summer, fall, and winter breaks.

The show follows a rather consistent format and is divided into 3 segments moderated by the host Chris Miller (formerly Tom Loy, who is pretty much a hero to mankind.) The first segment is discussion of the hot topics in the NFL with topics from other sports ranging from the NHL, NBA, MLB, and NCAA Football being presented and discussed during the second segment. The 3rd segment consists of two different sections, "Coin Toss" and "The Last Word". "Coin Toss" is a quick and to the point section that presents 10 debatable topics with fast and prompt responses. "The Last Word" is a "Face Time" type section where each analyst and the host end the show with 30 seconds to speak their mind on anything they choose. In all, 20 to 25 topics are presented during each show.

Four analysts appear during the show, with two appearing in the first and third segment, and two others appearing in the second segment. The analysts on the first and third segment participate in "The Last Word" while analysts on the second segment do not.

how History

"The Big Hit" was created in early 2004 by director Jake White and producer Tom Loy. Under their production, the show was equally split between professional and college sports discussion. Since their graduation in Spring 2006, the show title remains the same, yet the production crew has significantly changed. Currently, 2 crew members remain from the Spring 2005 season, Chris Miller and Matt Beucker, and 0 remain from the show's initial year. Show content has also significantly changed, and while college sports and programs are still discussed, "The Big Hit" primarily focuses on news from the professional sports world.

Up until Fall 2006, "The Big Hit" taped once a week with airings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with program taping on Mondays. At the start of the Fall 2006 semester, it was announced that an additional taping would take place each week to keep aired programming updated and to accommodate increased interest from student participants in production of the show. Program was taped on Mondays and Thursdays for the Fall 2006 Season. Mondays taping aired on Monday and Tuesday, while Thursdays taping aired on Thursdays and Fridays. The show returned to original taping and now only tapes one day a week - on Tuesday, with shows airing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Following the Spring 2006 season, the show was in need of talent, both on camera and behind the scenes. Four individuals remained on the show following the Spring 2006 season - Kenny Mountain, Chris Miller, Adam Ripple, and Matt Buecker. Kenny Mountain assumed the director role, while Chris Miller took the producer role. Both worked to replinish the roster of the show, and new talent was introduced following the Fall 2006 premier. Both made significant changes to the show, and established order and purpose while directing and producing the show. The show itself has made significant improvements while under their direction.

TV Schedule

Tuesday - 10 PM
Wednesday - 10 PM
Thursday - 10 PM

Aired on Comcast Cable Channel 20 and Atlantic Broadband Channel 20.

"The Big Hit" Production Crew

Director

Kenny Mountain (2006-07)
Tyler Graham (2007-2008)
Chris Miller (2008)
Tom Plungin (2008)

Producers

Chris Miller (2006-08)
Matt Aaron (2008)
Ben Hoffmeister (2006)

Host and Analysts

Chris Miller (2006-08) - Host (2004 - 2006) - Analyst
Adam Ripple (2004 - 2007)
Matt Beucker (2005 - 2008)
Matt Aaron (2006-08)
Dan Sprumont (2006-08)
Nick Edmeads (2006-08)
Christina Llewellyn (2006-07)
Kyean Harper (2006)
Anthony Mostrola (2006-08)
Roger Williams (2007)
Kraig Riley (2007)
Scott Grandrino (2007-08)
Matt Cohen (2007-08)
Ryan Golembewski (2007-08)
Tom Plungin (2007-08)
Antoine Taylor (2007-08)
Dan Fabrizi (2007-08)

how Gags and Notes

* "The Last Word" is the final section of the show, introduced in the Fall of 2006, allowing the host and analysts up to 30 seconds to speak their minds on anything they please. Although most of the time sports topics are mentioned or elaborated, occasionally non-sports topics are presented for comical or "In other news..." purposes. Notables include...- Fall 2006 -
** Chris Miller commenting on the growing danger of Stingray's in the ocean upon the killing of another individual, one month after the death of Steve Irwin, issuing a need to promote a prompt replenishment of 'wildlife guy'.
** Nick Edmeads commenting on the appearance of Ron Jeremy at IUP.
** Chris Miller reflecting on Jeb Bush's train station supply closet hideout after being chased by anti-Santorium individuals whom he offended.
** Chris Miller movie review for the new hit movie "Borat".
** Matt Aaron on the Britney Spears panty-less peak show.
** Nick Edmeads review for latest Rocky Balboa movie.
** Dan Sprumont encouraging all men to break up with their girlfriends during the Christmas season.- Spring 2007 -
** Dan Sprumont's diatribe on modern cellular devices and their seemingly endless capabilities ends with an endorsement of the corded phone. After hailing the outdated model for it’s principal ability to call from “point A to point B”, Dan callously exclaims “Screw Cell Phones!”
** Former host Tom Loy made a special guest appearance and brought with him the same charisma and energy that made him such a great host in the past. He also brought back "Fair Enough", a phrase that was so greatly missed.

* In many shows including Adam Ripple, it is noticed that he twitches his head back and forth from camera to host during shows. Former host Tom Loy occasionally joked on-air about this characteristic.
* Former host Tom Loy repeatedly used similar wording during shows, including "Very True" and "Fair Enough", a phrase supposedly said over 12 times in one-10 minute segment during a show.
* The show does not use teleprompters, although it was introduced and quickly eliminated at the beginning of the Fall 2006 season.
* Video highlights and background music were not used until the Fall 2006 season.
* WIUP-TV announced major upgrades to its studio at the beginning of the Fall 2006 semester. Upgrades were scheduled to be installed initially before October 2006, then pushed back to fall break (Early November), and now pushed back to a TBA date of their choosing.
* In addition to his TV duties, Chris Miller also participates in spot duty for the WIUP Radio show "Sports Talk Live" which airs Monday through Friday from 5-6 PM.
* "The Big Hit" is one of only 2 student-run programs that tape more than once a week (Newscenter 20) and is aired more than any other show on WIUP-TV.
* The show is filmed live to tape. Taping occurs with no cuts during segments.
* "The Big Hit" producers are developing plans for commercials to be aired in the near future.

IUP Graduates

* Jake White - former director. Currently employed by the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a Class A professional baseball team, as director of in-game promotions.
* Tom Loy - former producer. Currently employed in California for AM 570 Sports Radio as promotions assistant for the Los Angeles Lakers, UCLA Bruins, and the Oakland Raiders.
* Kenny Mountain - former director. Currently employed by the Altoona Curve, a Class AA professional baseball team, as director of in-game promotions.